Toronto city council’s board of health is considering a report Monday that says the province’s plan to close supervised consumption sites could lead to more fatal overdoses.
The closure of five supervised consumption sites in Toronto this year could also increase the workload of paramedics, according to the report, prepared by acting Medical Officer of Health Na-Koshie Lamptey.
Supervised consumption sites allow for safe consumption of illicit drugs in the presence of trained staff. Last year, the Ontario government passed legislation banning these sites from being within 200 metres of schools and daycares.
“The new legislation will reduce access to an evidence-based clinical healthcare service leading to an anticipated increase in preventable fatal and non-fatal overdoses,” according to the report before the board on Monday.
It is also likely to add strain to paramedics, the report found, after consulting with Toronto Paramedic Services.
Among its recommendations, the report asks that the board urge the Ontario government to increase access to supervised consumption sites.
It also asks the board to request plans from the province to mitigate impacts on the health-care system as a result of the site closures.
Former mayor encourages city to join legal challenge
Among the deputants at Monday’s council meeting was John Sewell, who was mayor of Toronto from 1978 to 1980.
He said the city must join the legal challenge against the provincial legislation as an intervener.
The challenge, launched by Toronto social services agency The Neighbourhood Group, argues the legislation violates both the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Constitution, including the right to life, liberty and security of the person.
Sewell said the provincial legislation is “going to cause a lot more people to unnecessarily die.”
He said it’s a direct attack on the city’s power to address public health issues. If the city doesn’t intervene in the court challenge, “that’s a real black mark,” he said.